Telephone-cabinet.



W. .l. PHILLIPS.

TELEPHONE CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2L. 1911.

1,299,506. I Patented Apr. 8,1919.

' 5 Ha/ x M X 1 m 'm/ KW atkozncq WILLIAM J. PHILLIPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB- T0 ARTHUR L. SCOFIELD,

0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application filed. December 21, 1917. Serial no. 208,271.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I WILLIAM JOHN PHIL- 'LIPs,'a citizen of the llnited States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone- Cabinets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to telephone stands or cabinets, and one of its objects is to afi'ord a convenient position for the telephone key box used with inter-communicating telephone systems, said key box being arranged just below the surface of the stand and leaving the top thereof free for other purposes. Heretofore, it has been the custom to place the key box on to of a table or desk or to attach it to the wa l, where it is inore or less in the way and inconvenient to reach.

A further object is to provide means for instant access to the buttons or keys of the telephone key box by constructing the stand or cabinet with an opening through which the keys can be operated and the station inscriptions read without the slightest inconvenience.

Another object is to provide means for concealing the key box from view, when not in use, by providing a slide or cover for the opening in the top of the stand through which access is had to the keys. If desired,

this slide may be opened or closed by springs controlled by a push button or electrical means. i

It is also the aim of this invention to protect the key box from dust or injury and to. prevent water or other fluid which may be spilled on top of the stand from reaching the telephone apparatus and causing interruption of the service. This is accomplished by forming ribs on the edgps of the slide orcover for the opening in t e top of the stand, and grooves in the edges of said opening to fit saidribs.

A further object is to provide means for placing the key box in position without dis connecting the wires running thereto, by constructing the bottom or support for said 'boxwith an opening through which his instrument may be introduced from below, and by adapting the portion of the top of the stand above the key box to. be displaced or raised when the key box is inserted.

Another object is to provide means for removing the telephone desk instrument and directories from view when not in use, by constructing the stand with a cabinet or inclosure therefor in which the key box may also be concealed.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a drawer in the stand or cabinet in which may be placed a-switch, secrecy key, or other apparatus used with the intercommunicating telephone systems.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection-with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of the invention and then more-specifically defined in the claims at the'end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken from front to back through a compartment in example, by the supports 2. Below the top 1 there is an inclosure 3, preferably extend ing under only a ortion of said. top, for housing and concea ing the key box 4. The portion 5 of the top of the stand above the compartment or inclosure ,3 is hinged at 6 so that it may be swun upward, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when t e key box is being inserted or removed. Normally, however,

the hinged top section 5 is closed,- as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and access to the keys 7 on the upper face of the key box 4 is bad through an opening or slot 8 in said top section 5.

The opening or slot 8 is normally closed by a sliding cover 9 having ribs 10 'on its edges to fit grooves 11' in the edges of the opening. This construction prevents water or other liquid, which may be spilled on top of thestand, from enterin the inclosure and causing an interruption o the service. The outer end of the cover or slide 9 is preterably formed with a finger grip '12, and said slide may also be equipped with springs (not shown) for automatically opening or closing the same when released by a ush button electrically or otherwise controlled and also not illustrated.

In order that the key box may be placed in the inclosure 3 without disconnecting the wires (not.shown), the bottom 13 of the in closure 3 is formed with an opening or slot 14 through which said key box ma be passed when turned on edge. To faci itate the introduction of the key box in this way,

' provided with a cabinet 16 large enough toreceive the telephone instrument 17 and directories 18, as well as the key box 4. The cabinet 16 is preferably provided with doors ,or closures 19, so that the, contents thereof may be concealed from view when not in use, but access thereto may be readily had when desired. When the enlarged. cabinet 16 is used instead of the inclosure 3, the key box 4 is supported just below the top of the stand by a suitable hanger 20 which may have its "bottom formed with an opening similar to the slot 14 in the bottom 13 of said inclosure 3. A notch or passageway 21 for the telephone cord (not shown), may be provided at any suitable point at the edge of one of the doors 19, so that said doors may be closed while the telephone is being used on top of the stand.

While I have shown my device as located in the top of a cabinet, I desire it understood that if.necessary samemay be built in any side of said cabinet that may be con.- venient.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A telephone stand having aninclosure in which a key box may be supported directly below the top of the stand, a portion of. the top being removable whereby access may be had to said key box, and the bottom of said inclosure having an opening through which said key box may be introduced into the inclosure without disconnecting its wires.

2. A telephone stand having a to an' inclosure in which a key box may be supported directly below said top, means of access to said key box through the top, and a drawer arranged below the top and at one side of the key box inclosure for concealing apparatus connected with an inter-communicating telephone system.

3. A. telephone stand having a top, an inclosure in which a key box, may be supported directly below. said top, means of access to said key box through the top, and a drawer arranged below the top and: at one 'sideof the key box inclosure for concealing apparatus connected with an-inter-communicating telephone system, the front of said. inclosure having the appearance of a drawer similar to the real drawer. A I

4. A telephone stand having a top, an inclosure in which a key box may be supported directly below said top, anda drawer arranged below the top andat'one side of the key box inclosure for concealing apparatus connected with an inter-communicating telephone system, the portion of the top imme-' diately above the inclosure being adapted to be displaced to permit access to said inclosure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 7 nameto this specification. 

